Coin controlled mechanism for vending machines



A ril 12, 1955 'r. A. HUTSELL 2,706,029

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov..l,1949 8 Sheets-Sheet l THOMAS A. HUTSELL Inventor (Ittornegs April 12,1955 HUTSELL 2,706,029

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 1,1949 8 Sheets-Shegt 2,

THOMAS A. HUTSELL ZSnventor 24 MAM (I ttornegs April 1955 T. A. HUTSELL2,706,029

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 1,1949 8 Sheet-Sheet THOMAS A HUTSELL 3 msentor Gttomcgs April 12, 1955 T.A. HUTSELL 2,706,029

com CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 1,1949 8 SheetsSheet 4 THOMAS A. HUTSELL l'nmentor Gttomegs April 12, 1955T. A. HUTSELL 2,705,029

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. '1,1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zinnentor (Ittornegs April 12, 1955 r. A. HUTSELL2,706,029

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed NOV. 1,1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 THOMAS A, HUTSELL Snventor MvM Gttomegs April 12,1955 T. A. HUTSELL COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINESOriginal Filed Nov. 1, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 FIG I I I 4 I I I a vHUTSELL Snnentor s A M O H attorneys April 1955 T. A. HUTSELL' 2,706,029

com CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 1,1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 THOMAS A. HUTSELL 3nventor attorney United StatesPatent COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Thomas A. Hutsell,Renton, Wash.

Original application November 1, 1949, Serial No.

124,799. Divided and this application August 17, 1951, Serial No.242,354

Claims. (Cl. 194-73) This present invention is a divisional applicationcovering the coin controlled mechanism disclosed in my copending U. S.patent application, Serial No. 124,799, filed November 1, 1949, entitledPaper and Periodical Vending Machine. This present applicationillustrates and describes a particular type of coin controlled mechanismtogether with the essential associated parts adapting this mechanism foruse in vending newspapers and other periodicals. One essentialrequirement of this form of mechanism is that the coin controlledmechanism be capable of convenient adjustment and be provided withadequate coin locks so that it can be set easily to vend periodicals forvarying total amounts and that these totals may be made up of severaldifferent pre-set combinations of coins.

Coin controlled mechanism have been highly developed over long periodsof years and many excellent mechanisms are available'for specificpurposes. This present invention relates to a specific form of structurewhich is adopted primarily for a very specific purpose, namely that ofselling periodicals and newspapers, the price of which very oftenchanges with different editions, and especially the Sunday editions asdistinct from the daily editions. Further when periodicals are sold at aprice of 16 cents and up, it is apparent that there are a number ofcoins required to make this total and there are several differentcombinations of coins which can be employed to add up to the requiredtotal. In this device the mechanism can be set to make use of the coinsmost predominant in a certain locality. This basic requirement thereforehas imposed an unusual requirement on this mechanism and the solutionsubmitted herewith has proved a very satisfactory one for the purpose.

The principal object of this present invention is to provide a coincontrolled mechanism for periodical vending machines, which contains allthe essential elements within a single housing, so attached that thismechanism can be removed easily and quickly from the vending machine forpurposes of service, repair, or adjustment.

A further object of this present invention is to provide a coincontrolled mechanism which will be capable of releasing the vendingmechanism when an indicated aggregate of lawful coins has been inserted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin controlledmechanism which will be capable of operation by an aggregate number ofcoins which total the given sales price and by proper setting be capableof varymg the aggregation required.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin controlledmechanism which will sort out improper coins and which will return allthe coins to the working purchaser if the coins do not add up to theproper money value.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin controlledmechanism in which the actuating means is so arranged that the mechanismitself will not be damaged due to the improper or forceful manipulationof the actuating handle.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedescription and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended orare inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of my coincontrolled mechanism as applied to a newspaper vending machine;

2,706,029 Patented Apr. 12, 1955 stantially along the plane indicated byline 5-5 of Figure 4; one side of the housing is shown as broken away;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the means employed fortransmitting power from the handle assembly to the vending assembly;

Figure 9 is a perspective view taken substantially along the line 9-9 ofFigure 4 and illustrates the general functioning of the price selectorand coin director mechanism;

Figure 10 is a bracketed typical transverse sectional view through thecoin tumbler and chute;

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of the coin receiver assembly;

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the planeindicated by line 1212 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, withcertain parts broken away, illustrating the coin director and coinrelease mechanisms; and

Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the coin stopmechanism and certain allied parts further illustrating the mechanismshown in Figure 9.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, thenumeral 10 designates generally the housing for a newspaper orperiodical vending machine. This is provided with a hinged cover member11 normally provided with a transparent inspection window 12. In thefront face plate 14 of cabinet 10 are cut out portions through whichportions of the coin controlled mechanism extend. These members consistof the operating handle 15, the coin returning port 16 and the coinreceiver and price designating cover 17.

The coin controlled mechanism is provided as a single replacement unitand is illustrated generally in Figure 4. It is provided with apreferably sheet metal U-shaped housing 20 and all the various partsassociated with the coin control means are secured to, or Within,housing 20. Provision is then made by any one of many ways of securinghousing 20 on the inside face of plate 14. A convenient expedient is theuse of clips or metal screws. The main operating or mechanical shaft 22is journaled in bosses formed in legs 23 and 24 of housing 20 andextends outwardly from each of these legs. Referring to Figure 2, it isto be noted that the handle 15 is secured to shaft 22 by means of thehandle yoke 25. Yoke 25 is provided with a detent 26 adapted to engageopening 27 on handle 15. The extreme inward end of handle 15 is providedwith an open slot at 28 which coacts with pivot pin 29 to hold thehandle as a working part of yoke 25. Yoke 25 is formed of a resilientmaterial and the handle lock 30, pivoted upon the pin 29, is presseddownwardly as used in Figure 3 after the handle has been assembledwithin the handle yoke. This forces the two side legs of the yoke intotight engagement with the handle member and insures operable engagementof detent 26 and hole 27. This completes the locking arrangement whichmakes it possible to withdraw handle 15 very easily as is necessary inorder to remove housing 20 and its associated parts from cabinet 10,handle 15 being withdrawn outwardly through the arcuate slot 32. Areturn spring 33 is provided to restore handle 15 always to theuppermost position when it is released, and an oil check cylinder andcooperating piston 34 are provided on one hand to check the upwardthrow, and on the downward movement of the lever these serve to slowdown the movement of the lever to a safe speed that will insure theproper functioning of the various parts, and particularly the movementof the paper or periodical during the dispensing cycle.

Adapted to be pivotally supported on diametrically extending ends ofpivot rod 35 is the paper holder 36.

This unit is bail-like in form and is provided with bends at 37 whichform bearings which in turn encircle the pivot rod 35. The bail isactuated by the downwardly extending arms 38 which are slidablypositioned in rocking nuts 39 which are pivotally mounted within thepusher crank throws 40. There are two of these throw members 40 onedisposed on each end of shaft 22 outside the housing 20. Paper holder 36holds the papers in proper position for vending and then because of theresilient nature of the same holds the periodicals quite securely so itis necessary to release this pressure during the vending cycle.Consequently it is therefore believed that the actuating means, asimmediately described, forms a component of this mechanism.

Another essential operating member, operating outside of the housing 20,is the vending bar 41. This is a substantially U-shaped metal memberproportioned to extend horizontally across the periodical while beingnarrow enough to pass freely between the arms of the paper holder 36. Incross section bar 41 is closed partially at the open end of the U togrip a plurality of resilient cushions 42. Disposed inlongitudinally-spaced relationship within cushions 42 is a plurality ofperiodical engaging points 43. A convenient form for these points is theconventional steel phonograph needle, the base end of which is embeddedin the resilient material together with a portion of the tapered pointto the end that a firm engagement is thus provided by the slightlyprotruding point. The functioning of vending arm 41 will thus beunderstood by a study of Figures 5, 6 and 7. In Figure the vending armis shown in its lower extended position; in Figure 6 in the partiallyraised posi tion, used to raise the periodical above the bottomretaining ledge, which is not illustrated in this present application;and in Figure 7 the upward limit of the stroke is shown together with aretraction of the vending arm as occurs when the periodical isdispensed. This is achieved merely by withdrawing the holding memberfrom the periodical and letting it drop under the influence of gravityso it will fall to the low point of the machine and come to rest againststop members 44 while lying within slot 45. In this position the papercan be grasped by the fingers and pulled out of the machine.

Vending arm assembly The vending arm is caused to operate as downwardpressure is applied to the end of handle 15. Mechanical shaft 22 isdisposed to revolve partially counter-clockwise as viewed in Figures 5,6, and 7 since the handle is fixed thereto and this carries with it yoke46 which is also fixedly secured to shaft 22. Pivotally mounted on pin57 within yoke 46 is dog plate 47 best shown in Figure 8. Dog 47 has anopening 49 positioned to engage catch 50 when yoke spring 48 shown inFigure 5 is allowed to operate, which occurs only when the correct coinor coins have been inserted as will be described later. The catch 50 ismounted pivotally upon mechanical shaft 22 and is actuated from shaft 22through means of dog 47, and when continued pressure is exerted onhandle 15, the outer end of catch 50 moves upwardly and then by means ofpivot 51 moves link stop 52 upwardly. The upper end of link stop 52 isguided by fixed shaft 53 within the elongated slot 54 which is cut inthe upper end of the link stop member. Pivotally secured to link stop 52at 55 is link 56. At its lower end link 56 is pivotally secured to thebell crank shaped cam 58. The apex of the bell crank is pivoted at 59 toa bracket 60 which is, in turn, fixedly secured to the underside of theslide guide 62. This slide member is fixedly secured to a rotatablymounted vending shaft 63. The upper end of cam 58 is bifurcated to formthe slot 64 that accommodates a pivot pin 65 which is fixed to thevending slide 66. Slide stop members 68 and 69 hold the vending slideinto sliding engagement with the slide guide 62 and also form abutmentsfor the bearings of pivot 65 at each end of the limits of its movements.The general functioning of this mechanism is in efiect to givesubstantially straight line lifting movement to the periodical duringthe beginning of the dispensing cycle and then to withdraw thedistending arm from contact with the periodical and then to restore thevending arm to the position of Figure 5 by keeping the points 43 wellaway from the reserve periodicals to be dispensed during the returncycle.

The withdrawal of vending arm 42 from comm t with the periodical and thereturn thereto is achieved through the energizing of shaft 63 by thetoggle mechanism shown in Figure 4. This consists of the toggle link 71which is fixedly secured at one end to shaft 63 and is connected at itsother end by toggle pin 72. This toggle pin is rotatably mounted in thetoggle slide 73 which in turn bears upon the spiral compression spring74 housed within the spring stay 75 which member in turn is pivotallysupported by the rod 76 which is fixedly secured to housing 20.Following the principles of spring actuated toggles, as soon as pin 72is forced beyond the line joining rod 76 and shaft 63, spring 74 takesover and completes quickly the partial revolution of shaft 63.

Coin collectors Figures 9 through 14 show the various elements employedto select or reject coins. Protruding through the front of the cabinetis the coin receiver 17 in which are a series of coin inlet slots 80, 81and 82. Immediately above these slots and aligned with them arecorresponding ports 83, 84 and 85 through which is indicated the moneyvalue in a given number of coins which the machine requires to make adelivery, and in order to make the machine easily set for varyingdenominations, the price indicator slides 87 are disposed immediatelybehind ports 83, 84 and 85. These slides operate in guideways and areheld in place by leaf springs 89 attached to the slides, or if desired,may be locked in position by clamping screws. Attached to each slide 87and extending downwardly are the price control rods 88. These are guidedsuitably normally at their lower ends, by guide means that are not shownfor the sake of clarity of illustration, and they are each provided witha cam portion as at 90. Each of the price control rods 88 has secured toit the horizontal tumbler lifter 92. This lifter is so disposed as torevolve tumbler 93 from the full line position to the dotted lineposition as shown in Figure 10. This is used to make the coin openinginoperative and such an arrangement has been shown in Figure 9 whereinthe left hand slide 87, as used, is in a position with the tumblerlifted. In this position any coin passed through coin slot 80 will notbe engaged by the tumbler and will thereby fall down and out through thecoin return chute.

When the slide 87 is fully or partially depressed, as when that coinslot is to be used, this lowers the tumbler 93 to a position where coinswill be directed by it into coin tube 98. Coin tubes 98 are eachequipped with a pair of coin stops one of which is at the lowerextremity of the coin chute and the other positioned approximately halfway up the coin chute. These coin stops are formed of wire and one endas 96, extends into the coin chute so that it does not allow any coinsto pass through while in this position. These coin stops, which arepivotally mounted, are normally held in the stop position by a spring107.

The position of the tumbler 93 shown in dotted lines in Figure 10 isshown in solid lines in Figures 6 and 7 wherein the tumbler has beenrotated so the extending lug 134 is in the path of reset spring 136which is fixedly secured to finger 130. Thus the finger is held againstrotation. In Figures 9 and 10 tumbler 93 is illustrated as having aframed, open floor; this construction permits undersized coins to dropstraight through and never be directed into the coin chute.

If one or more of the fingers 130 is allowed to follow dog 47 down, itrotates about its axis 35 until it strikes the finger limit shaft 131 asshown in dotted lines in Figure 5. At this point dog 47 is pulled freeof notch 132, but the opening 49 is below the catch 50 so no engagementwill occur. For resetting the dog 47 within notch 132 upon return of themechanism, I have provided a reset dog 137 fixedly secured to the end ofpivot shaft 57 which strikes a stop pin 138 and thereby forces the dogto rotate until it engages the notch 32.

Coin clearing mechanism The coin clearing mechanism which operateswhenever the handle is fully depressed is best shown in Figures 13 and14. The various parts of the coin receiving assembly of which coin tubes98 and coin stops 95 form a part are mounted on a common shuttle plate118. This shuttle plate is slidably mounted on the director plate 122which in turn is fixed by being secured to the main frame 20. Theshuttle plate 118 is held in a horizontally slidable positlon by aretaining plate 124 which is fixedly secured to shuttle plate 118 by aplurality of screws 126. Shuttle plate 118 and detaining plate 124 thusstraddle the co n director plate 122 while the shank of screws 126 ridein slot 127.

A tension spring 120 is fixed between the retaining plate 124 and thedirector plate 122 and is used to hold the shuttle plate in its normalposition. At the oppos1te side of the shuttle assembly is the coin droplever 116. This lever is pivotally mounted on the main frame 20 and atits upper end engages the shuttle plate 118. The lower arm of this bellcrank type coin drop lever extends into the path of the handle so thatwhen the handle is fully depressed the lever 116 is rotated about itspivot 119, which pulls the shuttle plate toward the lever pivot. Whenthis happens the coin receiver assembly moves to the left as viewed inFigure 14 while the price control rods remain stationary. This rotatesthe coin stops 95 about their axis which removes the portion 96 from thecoin chute and the coins are free to drop through. When the handle isreturned to its upper position by means of the spring 33 the lever 116is released and the spring 120 returns the shuttle plate to its originalposition.

When the coins drop free of the coin tubes they are directed by thesloping coin chutes 110 and 111 onto the gate 112. This gate ispivotally mounted between the director plate 122 and main frame by thepivot lugs 114 extending from each side of the gate and is normally heldin a position to direct all coins to the coin return chute. During thelast portion of the vending cycle the gate 112 is rotated by the gatelink 115 to a position where the coins are directed into the coin box.The gate link as shown in Figure 6 is connected at its upper end androtated by the slide guide 62. This insures that the coins, whenreleased, will go into the coin box only when vending takes place andwill otherwise be returned to the vendee.

In order to protect the mechanical parts of this machine from theweather the coin slots 80, 81 and 82 are each equipped with a gravityactuated slot cover 140. Each slot cover is round in cross section andhas a guide slot 141 in each end which keeps the cover aligned butallows vertical movement as the coin passes through the slot. The coindraw springs 142 shown in Figures 9 and 11 serve as the guides forcovers 140 as well as serve to draw the coins into the machine. The slotcover rests normally on shoulder 143 shown in Figure 11. This shoulderhas a series of slots or guides 144 in which the ends of springs 142ride. These slots are spaced farther apart than the slots 141 so thatthe tension of the springs is taken up by slots 144 thus leaving theslot covers free to move verticall A s shown in Figure 12 the spacebetween the spring arms is less than the diameter of the coin C so thatas the coin is pressed into the slot it first presses the slot cover upand then spreads the spring until it is halfway past the cover. Thespring squeezing together then draws the coin into the machine and thecover drops back into position. The lower portion 145 of spring 142 isdisposed at an angle directly behind the slot so that as the draw springdraws the coin into the machine the leading edge of the coin strikes theangular spring portion and forces it down so it is directed into thetumbler. This feature avoids the chance of having a coin bridge acrossthe opening leading to the tumbler and thereby rendering the machineinoperative.

Method of operation When the vendee prepares to obtain a periodical fromthis machine he first looks at the ports directly above the coinreceiver slots and sees just what change is required. On the illustratedmachine this could consist of two dimes, two nickels, and two pennies,totaling thirty-two cents or a fraction thereof, but it is to beunderstood that where a wider range is required this could be arrangedfor without changing appreciably the basic construction.

When the purchaser is satisfied that he has the correct change, which inthis illustration we will assume is one dime and two pennies, heproceeds to insert the three coins. In setting the machine for twelvecents the slide guide 87 showing through the dime port 83 has been fullydepressed which leaves the tumbler 93 in its lower or guiding positionand leaves the uppermost coin stop projecting into the coin tube 98.Since no nickels are to be used in this purchase the nickel indicatorslide has been fully raised which rotates the related tumbler 93 to aposition where all nickels inserted into the machine will'be returned.The

third or penny slide has been lowered to central or mid position whichlowers the tumbler and withdraws the upper coin stop from the coin tubeso that two pennies are required to operate this unit.

As the coins are inserted into the openings 80 and 82 they spread thedownwardly extending legs of the coin draw springs 142 until the coin ishalfway in. The tension of the spring 142 at this point draws the coinrapidly into the machine whereupon the coin strikes the lower portion145 of the spring and is directed down and onto the tumbler 93. The coinnow passes over the tumbler and into the coin tube where by ridingagainst extending arm it rotates the tumbler so no further coins will bedirected into the coin tube. Since one dime is called for the upper coinstop is in a position to stop the fall of the dime in this position,holding the tumbler in a slightly rotated position. The first penny onthe other hand is not stopped until it comes to rest on the lowermostcoin stop and therefore falls clear of the tumbler arm 105 and thetumbler is lowered to a position where it will direct the second pennyinto the coin tube. This second penny comes to rest atop the first andthis coin holds this tumbler in the rotated position. Now all threetumblers are in their rotated position.

The vendee now exerts a downward pressure on the extending handle 15 andthis causes rotation of the mechanical shaft 22. This rotation causesrotation of the paper holder 36 about the pivot rod 35 which eases upthe pressure of the paper holder on the papers. Since yoke 46 is fixedlysecured to the mechanical shaft 22 the rotation of the latter causessimilar rotation of the yoke. The yoke being drawn downwardly bringswith it the dog 47. The fingers 130 rest upon the dog 47 and by gravityattempt to follow the dog in its downward travel but are retarded by thetumbler lugs 134 which have been extended by the rotation of thetumbler. Fingers 130 being thus stopped allow the dog 47 to be pulledfree of the retaining notches 132 and the spring 48 rotates the dog intoengagement with the catch 50.

As the mechanical shaft continues to rotate this power is transmittedthrough yoke 46 to dog 47, thence through catch 50 to the stop link 52which is guided in a substantially vertical path of travel. This upwardmovement of stop link 52 is transmitted through link 56 to the cam 58which is kept from rotating about pivot 59 by the slide stop 69 so thebracket 60 which houses pivot 59 is raised. Since bracket 60 is attachedto the extending end of slide guide 62 which in turn is fixedly securedto the rotatably mounted vending shaft 63, the upward travel of thepivot 59 causes rotation of the shaft 63. This starts the compression oftoggle spring 74. As continued rotation of the mechanical shaft 22causes further rotation of the vending shaft 63 the vending armcontinues its rotation about shaft 63 and since it is gripping theperiodical to be vended, succeeds in lifting it from its lower retainingmeans. When the stop link 52 has neared its upper limit and is ready tobe stopped by the fixed shaft 53 the toggle is fully loaded and thehandle 15 has contacted the coin drop lever 116. The rotation of thevending shaft 63 and slide guide 62 has now forced down on the gate link115 and caused the rotation of gate 112 about its pivots 114 so that thegate is in a position to direct all coins away from the coin returnchute and into the coin box.

Further depression of the handle simultaneously drops the coins into thecoin box and vends the periodical to the purchaser. As the handle ispressed downwardly it exerts pressure on the extending leg of the coindrop lever 116 which is pivotally mounted and which therefore pulls theshuttle plate across the director plate. This withdraws all the coinstops from the coin tubes so the coins are released and fall free ontothe coin chutes and 111 which direct them onto the gate 112 which inturn directs them into the coin box. At the same time the toggle haspassed center and with its store of power released suddenly exerts acontinued rotary action on the vending shaft 63 which of course rotatesslide guide 62. This action transmitted through bracket 60, lifts cam 58by its apex pivot 59 which in turn lifts link 56 and stop link 52 untilthe latter strikes the fixed shaft 53 which in turn stops the link 56from further upward travel. The cam now starts to rotate upon pivot 59which pulls the pivot pin 65 and the vending arm 41 to which it isattached through the vending slide toward the vending shaft. Vendingshaft 63 and cam 58 continue to rotate until the lug which holds pivot65 comes to rest against the inner slide stop 68. This stops therotation of cam 58 which in turn stops the toggle from further rotationof shaft 63. The vending arm 41 is now withdrawn outside of the plane ofthe paper holder 36 which has insured that the vending arm has lostcontact with the periodical, and the paper thereby falls down into slot45 coming to rest against the stops 44 within easy grasp of the vendee,the paper having thus been vended, the handle is released and themachine returns to neutral.

The return of the machine is accomplished by the handle being pulledupwardly by the return spring 33 and this travel is retarded by the oilcheck valve 34. The first movement of the handle releases the coin droplever 116. The shuttle plate return spring 120 returns the shuttle plateto its normal position which returns the coin stops to their originalengaging position. As the mechanical shaft 22 is rotated by the returnof the handle this carries with it yoke 46 and dog 47 while the catch 50remains motionless. When yoke 46 is rotated part way the dog pivot rod57 comes to bear on the lower corner of the catch 50, and the catch isforced into rotation with the shaft 22. This draws down on the stop link52 which carries with it link 56. This movement is transmitted throughcam 58 to bracket 60 thence through slide guide 62 to the shaft 63 whichstarts rotating and this commences to compress the toggle spring 74.Here as in the vending operation the action is relatively simple untilthe last portion of the return when several actions occursimultaneously. When stop link 52 has almost reached the limit of slot54, the toggle has again reached center and its power puts a suddensurge in the rotation of shaft 63. This carries the stop link to itslower limit, then with pivot 55 unable to move, link 56 causes cam 58 tostart rotating which extends the vending slide until slide stop 69 haltsthis extension. This stops the rotation of shaft 63 and the vending armis in engagement with the next periodical.

At the same time this is occurring the shaft 22 and its affixed yoke 46are rotating. The yoke having reached the point where the reset dog 137has contacted the reset stop 138 the dog 47 starts to rotate about itsaxis pin 57. This rotation causes it to press upwardly and rake acrossthe lower surface of the fingers 130 which lifts these fingers and thereset springs which are attached thereto out of engagement with thetumbler lugs 134. With this obstacle removed the tumblers are allowed todrop back into position to direct the next coins into the coin tubes.The dog 47 continues to rotate and rake the fingers until the notches132 are reached at which time the fingers drop so that they engage thedog which has now stopped its travel.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention,it will occur to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made Without departing from the invention, and Itherefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A coin operated control device for a vending mechanism, comprising: ahousing: a plurality of paral lel finger members mounted in said housingto pivot in a vertical plane: a dog plate mounted transversely of saidfinger members, said dog plate and each finger member havinginterengaging means to prevent movement of said dog plate in onedirection longitudinally of said finger members; spring means tending tomove said dog plate in said direction; a manually operable operatinghandle, said dog plate being connected to said operating handle to movein a path of travel laterally away from said finger members as saidoperating handle is operated for initiating vending; a catch member foroperating the vending mechanism having one end disposed contiguous thepath of said dog plate away from said finger members in position toengage said dog plate when said dog plate is disengaged from the fingermembers and is biased from its finger member engaging position by saidspring means; and said finger members being disposed normally to followsaid dog plate in its path of travel, and a coin receiving mechanism foreach finger member having means for engaging the free end of its fingermember to prevent it from following said dog plate in its path of traveland to thereby disengage it from said dog plate when a previouslydetermined sum has been deposited in said coin receiving mechanism,whereby when the customer has deposited the correct amount of money eachcoin receiving mechanism engages the free end of its finger member andsaid dog plate is disengaged from the finger members as it moves in saidpath of travel and said dog plate is engaged by said catch member tomove with said dog plate thereby operating the vending mechanism.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which there is a stop connected tosaid housing and a reset dog connected to said dog plate disposed toengage said stop and to move said dog plate to its finger memberengaging position when said dog plate returns to its original positionat the end of the vending cycle.

3. The subject matter of claim 1 in which said coin receiving mechanismcomprises: a plurality of tumblers pivotally disposed in said housing,one for each finger member; a coin tube disposed below each tumbler,each tumbler having a downwardly extending chute arm disposed in saidcoin tube and the tumbler being disposed to direct coins deposited inthe housing into said coin tube; stop means in each coin tube forpositioning coins therein in position to wedge between said chute armand the side of said coin tube to move said tumbler from a firstinoperative position to a second operative position; each tumbler havinga lug thereon disposed to engage the associated finger member in saidsecond operative position to prevent the finger member from followingsaid dog plate in its path of travel.

4. A coin operated control device for a vending mechanism, comprising: ahousing; a finger member pivotally mounted in said housing; a dog platepositioned adjacent said finger member, said dog plate and said fingermember having interengaging means to prevent movement of said dog platein one direction longitudinally of said finger member; spring meanstending to move said dog plate in said direction; a manually operableoperating handle, said dog plate being connected to said operatinghandle to move in a path of travel laterally away from said fingermember as said operating handle is operated for initiating vending; acatch member for operating the vending mechanism having one end disposedcontiguous the path of said dog plate away from said finger member inposition to engage said dog plate when said dog plate is disengaged fromsaid finger member and is biased from its finger member engagingposition by said spring means; and said finger member being disposednormally to follow said dog plate in its path of travel, and a coinreceiving mechanism for said finger member having means for engaging thefree end of said finger member to prevent it from following said dogplate in its path of travel and to thereby disengage it from said dogplate when a previously determined sum has been deposited in said coinreceiving mechanism, whereby when the customer has deposited the correctamount of money said coin receiving mechanism engages the free end ofsaid finger member and said dog plate is disengaged from said fingermember as it moves in said path of travel and said dog plate is engagedby said catch member to move with said dog plate thereby operating thevending mechanism.

5. A coin operated control device for a vending mechanism, comprising: ahousing; a plurality of parallel finger members mounted in said housingto pivot in parallel planes; a dog plate mounted transversely of saidfinger members, said dog plate having an opening therein, said dog plateand each finger member having interengaging means to prevent movement ofsaid dog plate in one direction longitudinally of said finger members;spring means tending to move said dog plate in said direction; amanually operable operating handle, said dog plate being connected tosaid operating handle to move laterally in a path of travel away fromsaid finger members as said operating handle is operated for initiatingvending; said finger members being positioned to normally follow saiddog plate in its path of travel by force of gravity; a catch member foroperating the vending mechanism having one end disposed contiguous thepath of said dog plate in position to be engaged in said opening and tobe moved therewith when said dog plate is disengaged from the fingermembers and is biased from its finger member engaging position by saidspring means, said catch member being adapted to operate the vendingmechanism when moved by said dog plate; and a coin receiving mechanismfor each finger member having means for engaging the free end of itsfinger member to prevent it from moving with said dog plate when apreviously determined sum has been deposited in said coin receivingmechanism and thereby to separate said dog plate from said fingermembers and to separate said interengaging means permitting said dogplate to move in said one direction longitudinally of said fingermembers and to engage said catch member in said opening, moving saidcatch member and operating the vendlng mechanism.

6. A coin operated control device for a vending mechanism, comprising: ahousing; a manually operable handle for vending; said housing having aplurality of coin slots, indicia on said housing indicating thedenomination of coins to be used in each slot, each slot being sized topass no objects larger than the coin indicated by said indicia; aplurality of tumblers pivotally mounted in said housing, each tumblerbeing associated with one of said slots and having one end disposed toreceive coins deposited in the slot, said end being in the form of aslide and havin an opening therein over which the coins will pass, saidopening being of such a size that objects smaller than coins indicatedto be deposited in the associated slot will fall through said opening tobe returned to the vendee; a coin tube disposed below each tumbler, eachtumbler having a downwardly extending chute arm joining said slidedisposed in its coin tube thereby directing coins deposited in theassociated coin slot into the associated coin tube; a removable stop ineach coin tube to prevent coins in the tube from descending below saidstop, said stop being positioned so that coins stopped thereby will bein position to wedge between said chute arm and a side of the coin tubeto pivot the tumbler from a first inoperative position to a secondoperative position; means in said housing permitting vending only whenall of said tumblers are in said second operative position; and meansfor removing said removable stop from coin stopping position uponoperation of said operating handle so that coins may fall through saidcoin tubes.

7. The subject matter of claim 6 in which said means permitting vendingincludes a finger member mounted in said housing to pivot in a verticalplane about one end, said tumbler having a lug thereon disposed toengage the free end of said finger member in said second operativeposition.

8. A coin operated control device for a vending mechanism, comprising: ahousing having a coin slot; a tumbler pivotally mounted in said housingand disposed to receive coins deposited in said slot; a coin tubedisposed below said tumbler, said tumbler having a downwardly extendingchute arm disposed in said coin tube thereby directing coins depositedin the coin slot into said coin tube; a stop in said coin tube toprevent coins in said tube from descending below said stop, said stopbeing movable vertically to a plurality of levels at which levels thetop coin of one or more coins on said stop will be in position to wedgebetween said chute arm and a side of the coin tube to pivot the tumblerfrom a first inoperative position to a second operative position; meansdisposed in said housing permitting vending only when said tumbler is insaid second operative position; means for moving said stop vertically tosaid levels including indicia for indicating how many coins are requiredon said stop to dispose the top coin at a level in wedging position tomove said tumbler to said second operative position.

9. A coin operated control device for a vending mechanism, comprising: ahousing; a plurality of parallel finger members mounted in said housingto pivot in a vertical plane about one end; a dog plate mountedtransversely under said finger members, said dog plate and each fingermember having interengaging means to prevent movement of said dog platein one direction longitudinally of said finger members; spring meanstending to move said dog plate in said direction; a manually operableoperating handle, said dog plate being connected to said operatinghandle to move downward laterally away from said finger members as saidoperating handle is operated for initiating vending; said finger membersbeing positioned to normally follow said dog plate in its path of travelby force of gravity; a catch member for operating the vending mechanismhaving one end disposed contiguous the downward path of said dog platein position to engage said dog plate to be moved therewith when said dogplate is disengaged from the finger members and is biased from itsfinger member engaging position by said spring means, said catch memberbeing adapted to operate the vending mechanism when moved by said dogplate; and a coin receiving mechanism for each finger member havingmeans for engaging the free end of its finger member to prevent it frommoving downward with said dog plate when a previously determined .sumhas been deposited in said coin receiving mechanism and thereby toseparate said dog plate from said finger members and to separate saidinterengaging means permitting said dog plate to move in said onedirection longitudinally of said finger members and to engage said catchmember, moving said catch member and operating the vending mechanism.

10. A coin operated control device for a vending mechanism, comprising:a housing; a finger member mounted therein to pivot in a vertical plane;a dog member mounted under said finger member, said dog member and saidfinger member having interengaging means to prevent movement of said dogmember in one direction longitudinally of said finger member; springmeans tending to move said dog member in said direction; a manuallyoperable operating handle, said dog member being connected to saidoperating handle to move downward laterally away from said finger memberas said operating handle is operated for initiating vending; said fingermember being disposed to normally follow said dog member in its path oftravel by force of gravity; a catch member for operating the vendingmechanism having one end disposed contiguous the downward path of saiddog member to be moved therewith in position to engage said dog memberwhen said dog member is disengaged from said finger member and is biasedfrom its finger member engaging position by said spring means, saidcatch member being adapted to operate the vending mechanism when movedby said dog member; and a coin receiving mechanism for said fingermember having means for engaging the free end of said finger member toprevent it from moving downward with said dog member when a previouslydetermined sum has been deposited in said coin receiving mechanism andthereby to separate said dog member from said finger member and toseparate said interengaging means permitting said dog member to move insaid one direction longitudinally of said finger member and to engagesaid catch member, moving said catch member and operating the vendingmechanism.

Sullivan May 23, 1899 Price Oct. 1, 1901

